Coupled nitrification-denitrification associated with liquid manure in a gel-stabilized model system

Summary Following the application of liquid manure to soil, the development of the two processes, nitrification and denitrification, was studied in a two-phase model system. A saturated mixture of manure and soil, stabilized with silica gel, was overlain by an aerobic soil phase. Profiles of the redox potential pH, inorganic N, dissolved organic C, nitrification and denitrification potentials, and phospholipid concentrations for an estimate of microbial biomass were measured during a 20-day period. NH ₄ ⁺ diffusing into the aerobic soil was oxidized within 10 mm of the interface, but with only a small accumulation of NO ₂ ^- and NO ₃ ^- . It was estimated that N equivalent to approximately 70% of the NH ₄ ⁺ originally present in the manure was lost through coupled nitrification-denitrification. The potentials for nitrification and denitrification increased 40-and 20-fold, respectively, around the interface. Maximum values were recorded after 14 days. Within 0–5 mm of the anaerobic zone, apparent generation times for NH ₄ ⁺ -oxidizing bacteria of 1.1–1.8 days were estimated between day 1 and day 7. The phospholipid concentration profiles suggested that the biomass within 2 mm on either side of the interface was stimulated throughout the 20-day period.